Now on Patreon! Kardify Magazine Issue #54

 

Just released! Issue #54 of Kardify Magazine is now available on Patreon in both EPUB and PDF format! Patrons who pledged $3 or more will be able to download the latest issue from our Patreon page. This issue compiles selected articles published from mid-October to mid-November. Deck images, articles, and news to keep you informed and up-to-date with the latest playing card news, releases, and previews. If you love playing cards, you will love Kardify Magazine!

Also, don't forget to check out our other cool reward tiers on Patreon! The tiers include monthly desktop and smartphone wallpapers, a mystery deck shipped to you every 4 months of ongoing contribution, social media shout-outs, and multiple sponsorship tiers! Check it out!

Funds received from the magazine will help us keep the site running and growing, and bring new quality content to you. Our aim is to support designers by backing crowdfunded projects and supporting magic and playing cards retailers with their new releases. If you want to support us, please head over to our Patreon page. If you have an idea for an article you would like us to pursue, do get in contact with us. We hope you enjoy the read. In this issue:

+ 52 Plus Joker 2021 Club Deck: Sold out in 2 hours! Have a look at the stunning deck created by Stockholm17 exclusively for members of 52 Plus Joker.

+ Avengers Infinity Sage Red Edition: Theory11’s collaboration with Marvel Studio now comes in striking RED colorway. Check it out!

+ Odd Fellows: The first official Portfolio52-branded Kickstarter project designed by Stockholm17 as an ode to our love of playing cards. 

+ Poison: Thirdway Industries’ Poison Playing Cards is inspired by alchemy, pharmacy, and poisons and it’s settled in a fictional America of 1920. Find out more!

+ Black Reserve Note: Inspired by early 1900’s banknote engravings from U.S. currency, Kings Wild Project has redesigned the original Black Reserve note with a minimalistic tuck case and updated artwork on the cards.

+ Royal Silk: The latest addition to the spectacular and luxurious SILK playing cards by Lotrek inspired by renaissance engravings.

+ Blood Amber: Deck view of Skymember Presents’ fully custom deck centered on the experience of striving as a human being.

+ ECHO X Smoke & Mirrors: Taiwanese Cardistry group Lotus in Hand’s popular Echo deck is getting reimagined with Dan and Dave's Smoke & Mirrors brand.

… and more! 63 pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!

The Exploration Playing Cards with Augmented Reality Features

The Exploration Playing Cards is a very cool deck from DeckIdea launched on Kickstarter last week. Exploration will be the first deck from DeckIdea that provides an Augmented Reality (AR) experience. The AR app is available for FREE on the IOS and Google Play Store. According to the DeckIdea campaign page,

It is another project that has been in the works for a while with the intend of bringing Augmented Reality to Cardistry. The Exploration Deck is the first deck that was design specially to be compatible with the app.

 

Even without AR, the dec design is elegant on its own. Fully custom, the back was designed so that it is visually pleasing during flourishing and purely up-close inspection. The back features a large bold circle in the center, surrounded by intricate details. 

The circle allows the viewer to keep track of the motion of the cards during flourishing. The intricate details only become more visible when view up close, creating a different visual experience.

For the face cards, the court cards are modern reinterpretations of the traditional royals but fully functional for magic and/or card games. The pips are printed on all 4 corners, making the deck user-friendly to both right and left-handed cardists and magicians alike.

The Ace is beautifully crafted and full of detail. There is also something cool when viewd with the AR app.

The deck is packaged in an elegant tuck box inspired by traditional Japanese woodworking techniques Kumiko and Yosegi-zaiku.  Yosegi-zaiku puzzle boxes usually have a hidden compartment once you solve the puzzle. From the campaign page, 

The Exploration deck also has its own hidden feature; working with Augmented Reality!

The tuck box is adorned with stunning gold foil and capped with a numbered Seal. The Standard Edition is limited to 2,700 decks only and the Blue Gilded to only 200. The decks will be printed by Hanson Chien Production Co on Vintage Stock. Pledge starts at $12 on Kickstarter.

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Fulton's Thunderbird Room Playing Cards

Another cool deck from Fulton's Playing Cards! Fulton's Thunderbird Room playing cards are inspired by the beautiful Arizona Sunsets. Illustrated by Jeff Trish in a mid-century style and produced by The Buck Twins, this creation is a timeless representation of beauty in the world of playing cards. 

The deck sports a retro color palette of the 60's on the tuck box and the striking 2-way card backs. With the exception of the Ace of Spades and Jokers, the face cards are pretty standard but recolored to match the theme and color palette of the deck. 

Fulton's Thunderbird Room plays out as a masterful casino deck that will instantly take you to the beauty of the Valley of the Sun. Printed by the U.S. Playing Card Co. on our preferred thin stock. 

 

Available now for $15 on fultonsplayingcards.com.

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On Kickstarter, CHAO (Han Purple Edition) Playing Cards

Han Purple Edition is the latest edition to the CHAO Playing Cards Series by MPC seeking funds on Kickstarter. This historical deck of cards pays tribute to four of the greatest and most recognized dynasties in Chinese history – Han, Tang, Ming, and Qing. 

Each dynasty has an outstanding and reputable Emperor, Empress, and General, each with their own notorious traits and fascinating stories. The CHAO depicts these influential men and women that were renowned and celebrated from each of the four famous dynasties. 

The fifth edition of the CHAO playing card deck series takes on a Han purple color. According to the campaign page,

Purple is a very important and traditional color in China and used in ancient and imperial China from the Western Zhou period (1045–771 BC) until the end of the Han dynasty (circa 220 AD). Han purple was first used in paints in the Qin dynasty for the Terracotta Army in the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang symbolizing luxury and strong status. This symbolism comes from the Emperor period when the king’s advisors were dressed in purple. Also, in ancient Chinese myths, especially those related to Taoism, fairies often dressed in purple.

Inside, each suit i.e. Spades, Hearts, Clubs, and Diamonds reflects one of the four chosen dynasties (Han, Tang, Ming, and Qing). The Chinese Emperors, Empresses, and Generals for the King, Queen, and Jack cards all represent great power, wealth, and wisdom, each with different traits and personalities, and each dynasty holds its own trademarks to differentiate them from others. Inspired by these different elements, each Emperor features distinct clothing and accessories from their era, Empress’s have different hairpieces and hold the instrument that they played and Generals wear armor and yield the weapon used to fight in their notorious battles. 

The 4 custom aces include very detailed Chinese patterns. MPC also added a Chinese dragon on the ace of spades – a symbolism of imperial power and strength. The Han purple is used on the card backs. 

 

The tuck box completes the overall aesthetics of the deck and comes in a carefully chosen color to represent Han Purple. Embossing and gold foil stamping is used to symbolize wealth and royalty. The sticker seal on the tuck box uses a stamp cutting design. 

  

The deck is manufactured by MPC in China on the M32 linen air stock with the highly sought-after BETA finishing. Pledge starts at $14 on Kickstarter. Only 2500 will be produced. 

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